REFORM GROWTH IN ARAB-EU TRADE

REFORM GROWTH IN ARAB-EU TRADE
Winter 2012
With Media Partner
This report reflects the conference rapporteur’s
understanding of the views expressed by
speakers.
Moreover, these opinions are not
necessarily those of the organisations they
represent, nor of Friends of Europe, its Board of
Trustees, members or partners.
Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted,
providing that full credit is given to Friends of
Europe, and provided that any such reproduction,
whether in whole or in part, is not sold unless
incorporated in other works.
Rapporteur: Lorne Cook
Publisher: Geert Cami
Project Director: Nathalie Furrer
Project Managers: Jacqueline Hogue, Federica Torcoli
Project Assistant: Claire Muurmans
Photographer: Ilaria Dozio
Cover image: Heini Järvinen
Table of contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
5
REFORM GROWTH
6
ANNEX I – Programme
11
ANNEX II – List of registered participants
12
Reform growth in Arab-EU trade | Winter 2012
5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Friends of Europe’s Café Crossfire, entitled ‘Reform Growth in Arab-EU Trade”,
provided an opportunity for senior policymakers in this field to discuss their views of
how the evolving trade relationship between the EU and its Arab neighbours can best
be managed in order to ensure a mutually beneficial future.
Several speakers highlighted the need to ensure that the changes taking place in
Arab countries benefit all sectors of society. In particular, Alar Olljum, Advisor for the
European External Action Service on North Africa, the Middle East, the Arabian
Peninsula, Iran and Iraq, emphasised the importance of dealing with youth
unemployment and of empowering women, a stance backed by Ilham Zhiri,
President of the Moroccan Women’s Network for Mentoring and Networking.
A number of speakers, including Ahmed Tibaoui, President of the Arab-EU Business
Facilitation Network, Louis Telemachou, Cyprus Ambassador to the EU’s Political
and Security Committee, and Peter Balas, European Commission Deputy Director
General for Trade, discussed the potential of the EU to contribute to such positive
developments. Practical steps that could be taken in this regard, particularly in
relation to support for the private sector, were outlined by Fadel Allabadi, Industrial
Development Department Manager at the Amman Chamber of Industry, and by
Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General of the Federation of Gulf Chambers
of Commerce (FGCCC). Sajjad Karim MEP, Member of the European Parliament
Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq Countries and EU-Egypt Task Force
Representative, noted that the ultimate responsibility for such changes lies with the
states themselves.
Despite the challenges involved in redefining the Arab-EU trade relationship, all
speakers were confident that mutual engagement would lead to lasting benefits for
both sides.
SPEAKERS PANEL (from left to right): Louis Telemachou, Abdul Rahim Hassan
Naqi, Fadel Allabadi, Sajjad Karim MEP, Shada Islam (moderator), Ahmed
Tibaoui, Alar Olljum, Ilham Zhiri, Peter Balas
Friends of Europe | Global Europe
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REFORM GROWTH
The political transformation taking place in countries around the Mediterranean and in
the Middle East has the potential to create new wealth and quality employment for
millions of men and women. In the context of the global economic crisis, the Arab
uprisings also provide an opportunity for companies to bring more business to
Europe, and indeed the EU could win at least as much, if not more, than its partners
in the South through improved trade and investment, said experts at a Friends of
Europe debate on Reform Growth in Arab-EU Trade.
“Corruption, cronyism and the
absence
of
democratic
representation are all of the things
that have led to the types of
revolutionary change that have
happened”
Sajjad Karim MEP, Member of the European
Parliament Delegation for Relations with the
Mashreq Countries and EU-Egypt Task Force
Member
The political and economic tracks in these fast-changing nations are deeply
interconnected. "Corruption, cronyism and the absence of democratic representation
are all of the things that have led to the types of revolutionary change that have
happened. They have significant effects on economic activity and investment
decisions. All of these things need to be addressed", said Sajjad Karim MEP,
Member of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq
Countries and an EU-Egypt Task Force Representative.
“Economic growth and political
stability are sustainable only if the
growth is inclusive”
Alar Olljum, Advisor for North Africa, Middle
East, Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq for the
European External Action Service
Success on both tracks can only be assured if economic growth is inclusive; shared
through all sectors of society, rather than kept for the wealthiest as was often the
case in the past. "Economic growth and political stability are only sustainable if the
growth is inclusive. We have to ensure that the growth will be inclusive, that it will
address the issues of women's empowerment and youth unemployment", said Alar
Reform growth in Arab-EU trade | Winter 2012
7
Olljum, Advisor for North Africa, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq
for the European External Action Service.
The strength of Europe's engagement could have a decisive influence. "There is
concern that perhaps, given the global crisis which is hitting Europe and the euro, the
EU might disengage itself vis-à-vis the countries of the south and from the
commitments it has made to them", said Ahmed Tibaoui, President of the Arab-EU
Business Facilitation Network.
The European Union is the leading trade partner and investor in the countries around
the Mediterranean rim. The EU is seeking to negotiate deep and comprehensive free
trade agreements (DCFTA) with many countries in the region. EU foreign ministers
decided, almost exactly a year ago, to launch DCFTA talks with Egypt, Jordan,
Morocco and Tunisia. The accords cover a range of areas, such as trade facilitation,
technical barriers to trade, health measures, investment protection, public
procurement and competition policy.
"This process has been very useful" in Eastern Europe, said Peter Balas, European
Commission Deputy Director General for Trade. "We think that investment inflows
are a major growth factor for the countries of this region, and creating more stable
conditions for investment is an extremely important element of our relationship and
the way we can help these countries".
“We would like this to turn into a
wheel where all along the rim
countries are liberalising among
themselves. This the EU can
promote, and encourage, but the
decision is clearly in the hands of the
governments”
Peter Balas, European Commission Deputy Director
General for Trade
The DCFTA negotiations, which are likely to take three years to complete, also allow
the EU to focus on ways to improve economic integration and cooperation between
the countries of the region. This is important in helping to reduce dependence and
also helps Arab countries to help themselves by improving inter-regional trade and
travel. "Very often what we see, and frankly do not enjoy and appreciate, is that the
EU is in the centre, and that there are spokes leading out to every single country
bilaterally", said Balas. "We would like this to turn into a wheel where all along the rim
countries are liberalising among themselves. This the EU can promote, and
encourage, but the decision is clearly in the hands of the governments".
In order to fully exploit business possibilities, speakers and members of the audience
- many of them from the region - urged the European Union to reach out to the
private sector. "We are looking for better and stronger relations with our friends in the
EU, and we truly hope that they will continue to support the private sector. We need a
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Friends of Europe | Global Europe
focus on education, training, transfer of technology and know-how", said Abdul
Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General of the Federation of Gulf Chambers of
Commerce (FGCCC).
“We are looking for better and
stronger relations with our friends
in the EU, and we truly hope that
they will continue to support the
private sector”
Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General
of the Federation of Gulf Chambers of
Commerce
Fadel Allabadi, Industrial Development Department Manager at the Amman Chamber
of Industry, echoed those sentiments, and also encouraged Europeans to address
the needs of both the public and the private sectors when it comes to aid. "We need
more EU aid programmes. But we need to make sure that these programmes, which
are mainly designed for the public sector, are done in consultation with the private
sector, complying with private sector demands to have more impact on the business
sector", he said.
“We need more EU aid programmes. But we need to make
sure that these programmes are done in consultation with
the private sector”
Fadel Allabadi, Industrial Development Department Manager, Amman Chamber of
Industry
To foster relations between business communities in Europe and the South, Allabadi
called for a number of concrete steps to be taken. "We need more match-making
events with European business partners, and why not have trade promotion offices,
export trade houses, that can promote and provide services for all Arab exporters,
not only single countries?" he said. European investment, he said, could be a main
driver for creating job opportunities and should be channelled into high-added-value
and hi-tech industries.
Reform growth in Arab-EU trade | Winter 2012
9
Speakers also drew particular attention to the need to empower women in the
Mediterranean region, where they have traditionally been underemployed and their
talents neglected. "Women in my country, and perhaps the whole region, total 52
percent of the population", said Ilham Zhiri, President of the Moroccan Women's
Network for Mentoring and Networking. "We only have 25 percent of those who
participate actively in the workforce, while 65 percent graduate from university. And
again; 70 percent of women in my country are still living in precarious circumstances,
if not at the level of poverty".
“We are agents of change, and we
are looking for an effective,
strong, sustainable partnership
with the European Union to
empower women and also to help
the next generation of young
people”
Ilham Zhiri, President of the Moroccan
Women’s Network for Mentoring and Networking
“It is through public-private partnership that we can make things happen and really
have women playing a role. We are agents of change, and we are looking for an
effective, strong, sustainable partnership with the European Union to empower
women and also to help the next generation of young people", she said. Zhiri and
other speakers also voiced concern at the chronic unemployment among young
people, and particularly well-educated people, including university graduates.
“We want to extend a hand to
help these countries to include
all members of society in the
new societies that they want to
create”
Louis Telemachou, Cyprus Ambassador to
the EU’s Political and Security Committee of
the EU
Louis Telemachou, Cyprus Ambassador to the EU's Political and Security
Committee, emphasised that Europe was doing its best to help in this regard. But he
sounded a note of caution, as the EU is wary of imposing its views. "We want to
extend a hand to help these countries to include all members of society in the new
societies that they want to create. We are not going to do the work for them, we
actually should not interfere, this is not our job", he said. "But we should encourage
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Friends of Europe | Global Europe
the new societies being built to be more inclusive in terms of minorities and to be
more inclusive in terms of women".
Touching on a contentious topic that found resonance among many listeners, the
FGCCC’s Naqi urged Europe to further open its market to Arab businesspeople by
cutting red tape for those seeking Schengen area visas. He said it was far easier to
obtain visas for Britain and the United States than for continental Europe. "We need
to facilitate visas for the businessman from the Gulf area. It is a shame, in 2012, to be
asking Europe about visas", he said.
But Telemachou noted that Europe had taken many years to create the Schengen
area, and that travel is not very easy for people in the region wishing to do business
with their neighbours. "What are the initiatives taken among the Arab world to help
business people travel within the region? How easy is it for a Libyan businessperson
to visit one of their neighbouring countries and promote their exports? So, I would
argue that the first step on this is to facilitate visas among the Arab states
themselves. Then we, as the EU, will also have our homework to do", he said.
“The EU must consider the
countries of the south as real
partners,
and
encourage
companies to invest there because
the environment is favourable”
Ahmed Tibaoui, President
Business Facilitation Network
of the
Arab-EU
Above all, the European speakers emphasised the so-called "more for more"
principle, whereby the EU has stood ready to reward nations in the region for any
additional progress they might make with democratic reforms. "Ultimate responsibility
rests with the states themselves, to want to bring about the sort of changes that are
required", said MEP Karim.
Yet those from both the North and the South acknowledged that, whatever the
challenges, the Arab uprisings could become a well spring of economic opportunity
for all. "Yes, there are fears that there will be a flood of cheap goods, of cheap
labour, etc. But actually it's a win-win situation. In fact, the economic gains quite often
come to the more advanced partner. Both sides would win, but we would win more in
fact." said the EU External Action Service's Olljum. Tibaoui said: "The EU must
consider the countries of the south as real partners, and encourage companies to
invest there because the environment is favourable and because today, Europe is in
crisis. It can reclaim some of the market share that it has lost in our countries through
investment and co-development." Meanwhile, Naqi had a final word for the European
business community: "In 2010, 51 billion euro was invested in the Gulf area. Your
investment is more secure in Arab countries than in Europe, and it is guaranteed."
Reform growth in Arab-EU trade | Winter 2012
11
ANNEX I – Programme
10.00 – 10.30
Welcome and registration of participants
10.30 – 12.30
FORGING A NEW EU-ARAB PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH AND
STABILITY
The forces unleashed by the Arab uprisings are transforming the political landscape in the Middle
East. To be successful, however, political change must be accompanied by a simultaneous
economic awakening which can generate quality employment for millions of young men and
women. The European Union, which has long-standing economic, trade and investment relations
with the Arab world, can play an important role in helping to transform the economies of the
region. Does the EU have a new vision for improving its economic and political relationship with
Arab countries in order to support growth and political stability? Are the Arab world’s new leaders
interested in a stronger economic partnership – including investments and trade - with the EU?
What is the potential for enhanced cooperation between the European and Arab private sector in
promoting jobs and investments? How open is the EU market to manufacturing and agricultural
exports from Arab countries?
FEATURING:
Fadel Allabadi, Industrial Development Department Manager at the Amman Chamber of Industry
Peter Balas, European Commission Deputy Director General for Trade
Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General of the Federation of Gulf Chambers of
Commerce (FGCCC), Saudi Arabia
Sajjad Karim MEP, Member of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the
Mashreq Countries and EU-Egypt Task Force Representative
Alar Olljum, Advisor for North Africa, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq for the
European External Action Service (EEAS)
Louis Telemachou, Cyprus Ambassador to the Political and Security Committee of the EU
Ahmed Tibaoui, President of the Arab-EU Business Facilitation Network
Ilham Zhiri, Founder and President of the Moroccan Women’s Network for Mentoring and
Networking
Moderated by Shada Islam, Head of Policy at Friends of Europe
12.30 – 13.30
Networking lunch
Workshops organised by the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Arab-EU Business
Facilitation Network:
13.30 – 14.45
WORKSHOP 1: Specific instruments under the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), including Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Agreements (DCFTAs) and Rules of Origin
14.45 – 15.00
Coffee break
15.00 – 16.15
WORKSHOP 2: Specific instruments concerning food safety and
veterinary policies in Arab-EU trade
16.15 – 16.30
Conclusions and final remarks
16.30 onwards
Cocktail reception & end of conference
Friends of Europe | Global Europe
12
ANNEX II – List of registered participants
Nabeel Abdulrahman Ahmed, Senior Service
Manager, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
Ahmed Abu-Nahia, Assistant Acting Director
Public Relations Department, Qatar Chamber
of Commerce and Industry
Elsayed Abuyoussef, Minister Plenipotentiary
for Trade, Mission of Egypt to the EU
Hussein Abdulrahman Al Athel, Secretary
General, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce &
Industry
Basil Al Awami, International Director,
Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce
(FGCCC)
Noor Al Deen Al Sagheer, Assistant Professor
(Modern History + Islamic Studies), University
of Sharjah, College of Arts & Sciences - History
& Islamic Civilization Department
Najeeb Al Hamer, Chairman, Bahrain
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Moosa Bin Jaffar Al moosawi, Foreign Affairs
and Exhibition Director, Oman Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
Ahmed Al Saati, Public Relations Manager,
Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce
(FGCCC)
Saleh Al Sharqi, Deputy General Manager,
Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Jasim Alabdouli, Second Secretary, Embassy
of the United Arab Emirates to Belgium
Khalifa Alktebi, Acting deputy director for
community services sector, The Emirates
center for strategic studies and research
(ECSSR)
Fadel Allabadi, Manager for Industrial
Development, Amman Chamber of Industry
Mohamed Allam, First Secretary, Mission of
Egypt to the EU
Shaban I. Almentaser, Board Member, Libyan
Businessmen Council
Sami Alshammas, Political Analyst, Mission of
Kuwait to the EU
Mohammed Alsharif, Secretary General,
Medinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Abubakr Anwar, Project Manager,
ThinkYoung
Mose Apelblat, Principal Administrator,
European Commission:, Directorate General
for Enlargement
Hassaniya Aqqad, Journalist, Maghreb Arab
Press (MAP)
Belal Ateya, Second Secretary, Mission of Iraq
to the EU
George Ayash, General Manager, IFP Qatar
Ahmed Bin Saleh Ba-Abood, Director, Oman
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Isa Babaa, Executive Director, Libyan
Businessmen Council
Yahia Bakour, General Director, Arab Region
Center for Agricultural and Developmental
Studies and Consultancy
Peter Balas, Deputy Director General,
European Commission: Directorate General for
Trade
Mohamed-Raja'l Barakat, Independent
Economic Expert
Jean Barbe, Administrator, Head of Section
Middle East Gulf and DPRK, European
Commission: Directorate General for
Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid
(DEVCO)
Abolfazl Beheshti, President and Professor in
International Relations and Energy Economy,
European Network for Environment and
Sustainable Development (ENEDS),
Nadjet Belbachir, International Relations
Commission, Head of Africa Zone, Forum des
Chefs des Entreprises (FCE)
Mehdi Bendimerad, Board Member, Forum de
Chefs Entreprise, Algeria
Esme Berkhout, Policy Advisor Social &
Political Participation (MENA), Oxfam Novib
Nuray Beyhan, Director, The Union of
Chambers of Commerce and Commodity
Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)
Sophie Bichon, EU Policy Analyst, Airbus,
Brussels Office
Aicha Bouhjar, Responsible Committee
Partnership, Moroccan Women Mentoring
Networking
Aïcha Bouhjar, Committee Partnership
Representative, Moroccan Women’s Network
for Mentoring and Networking
Necati Bulak, President, European Africa Arab
Development Council
Myriam Buyse, Administrative Assistant,
Coordination and Planification, Interinstitutional relations, Communication,
European Commission, Directorate General for
Home Affairs
Geert Cami, Co-Founder & Director, Friends of
Europe, Les Amis de l'Europe
Laura Carre-Diaz, Consultant, Cambre
Associates
Joohyun Chae, Project Assistant, Korean
International Trade Association (KITA)
Mohamed Charfi, Pu/Couns & Adviser, Saudi
Arabia Mission to the European Union
Reform growth in Arab-EU trade | Winter 2012
Juneho Choi, Research Assistant, Korean
International Trade Association (KITA)
Sinne Conan, Director, Confederation of
Danish Industry (DI)
André Corrado, Administrator, European
Parliament
Omar Cutajar, Permanent Delegate, Malta
Business Bureau (MBB), Brussels Office
Mohamoud Daar, Representative,
Representation of the Republic of Somaliland
to the European Union
Sarah Daum, Chief Executive Officer, Bohen
Olivier de Laroussilhe, Head of Unit, South
Mediterranean and Middle East, European
Commission: Directorate General for Trade
Sanne De Mayer, Comminications Manager,
Arab-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of
Commerce
Quentin de Roquefeuil, Policy Officer,
European Centre for Development Policy
Management (ECDPM)
Shelley Deane, Senior Middle East Advisor,
International Alert
Ioannis Dimitriadis, Correspondent, Azzaman
Newspaper
Iana Dreyer, Analyst, Institut Montaigne
Maria Elena Efthymiou, Administrator,
European Parliament
Sakib Ershad, Assistant to Sajjad Karim MEP,
European Parliament
Mert Ersin, Director, Euro-mediterranean
Networks
Fouad Ferhat, Diplomatic Secretary, Mission
of Algeria to the EU
Meriame Filali, International Director,
Confederation of Moroccan Industrialist
(CGEM)
Nathalie Furrer, Director, Friends of Europe,
Les Amis de l'Europe
Claire Gillespie, Research Assistant, Malta
Business Bureau (MBB), Brussels Office
Nikola Gjorgonoski, Executive Assistant to
CEO, Kapital Invest,
Despina Gleitsmann, Consultant, Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Rasha Gomaa, Counsellor, Mission of Egypt to
the EU
Ingrid Habets, Research Officer, Centre for
European Studies (CES)
Mohammed Hamiddouche, Correspondent,
Morroco News Agency (MAP)
Nathalie Hanley, Dow
Amanda Hansen, Analyst, Confederation of
Danish Industry (DI)
Sophie Hau, Student, University of Kent,
Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS)
13
Mouloud Hedir, Adviser, Forum des Chefs des
Entreprises (FCE)
Samia Herrag, Political Counsellor, Mission of
Morocco to the EU
Qaisar Hijazin, Secretary General, ArabBelgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
Mathieu Hoeberigs, Principal Administrator,
Tourism & International Relations, European
Commission:, Directorate General for
Enterprise and Industry
Ziad Homsi, Vice President, Jordan Chamber
of Industry
Henna Hopia, Visiting Fellow, Centre for
European Studies (CES)
Christof Hoyler, Founder and Chief Executive,
Global FairNet
Shada Islam, Head of Policy, Friends of
Europe, Les Amis de l'Europe
Kristoffer Jensen, Analyst, Confederation of
Danish Industry (DI)
Osagumwengie Egheosa Jesuorobo,
Managing Director & Chief Executive, Creates
Sajjad Haider Karim, Member, European
Parliament:, Delegation for Relations with the
Mashreq Countries
Dina Khayyat, Board Member, Jordan
Chamber of Industry
Maen Khreasat, Counsellor & Deputy Head of
Mission, Mission of Jordan to the EU
Olga Kikou, European Affairs Manager,
Compassion in World Farming
Nestan Kirtadze, President, Profesor, EUGeorgian Abkhazian and Ossetian International
Movement (EUGAO)
Peter-Paul Knops-Gerrits, Research &
Innovation Liaison Officer, The Liaison Agency
Flanders-Europe (VLEVA VZW)
Aris Kokkinos, Journalist, CafeBabel.com
Athina Kylafi, EU Government Relations,
BASF EU Liaison Office
Pierre-Jacques Larrieu, Head of Unit, Rules
of Origin, European Commission:, Directorate
General for Taxation and Customs Union
Wolf-Martin Maier, Policy Officer, Desk for
Mediterranean Countries, European
Commission: Directorate General for Health
and Consumers
Zohra Majoul, EU Director, Union of Tunisian
Enterprises (UTICA)
Antonio Malta Reis, Policy Officer, European
Commission
Diego Mellado, Deputy Head of Division,
European External Action Service (EEAS)
Emilia Miloiu, Consultant, Interel European
Affairs
Armal Moussallem, Board Member,
Association of Lebanese Industrialists
Friends of Europe | Global Europe
14
Lirim Muharemi, President, Kapital Invest
Sebastian Müller, First Secretary, Economic
Policy & Growth, Mission of Switzerland to the
EU
Sofia Munoz Albarran, Deputy Head of Unit
and Co-ordinator Trade Aspects of Barcelona
Process, South Mediterranean and Middle
East, European Commission:, Directorate
General for Trade
Abdulnaser Ben Nafaa, Chairman, Libyan
Businessmen Council
Ali Nakai, International Director, Union of
Tunisian Enterprises (UTICA)
Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary
General, Federation of Gulf Chambers of
Commerce (FGCCC)
Hala Nusairat, Third Secretary, Mission of
Jordan to the EU
June O'Keeffe, Administrator, European
Parliament:, Committee on International Trade
Montaser Oklah Alzoubi, Ambassador,
Mission of Jordan to the EU
Catherine Olier, Policy Advisor, EU Essential
Services, Oxfam International Advocacy Office
(Brussels)
Alar Olljum, Advisor to the Managing Director
for North Africa, Middle East, Arabian
Peninsula, Iran and Iraq, European External
Action Service (EEAS)
Yan Omelchenko, Minister Counsellor,
Embassy of Ukraine to Belgium
Philippe Orphanides, Member of the PSC
Team, Permanent Representation of Cyprus to
the EU
Jakob Oster, Consultant, Confederation of
Danish Industry (DI)
Saad Ouieni, General Manager, Association of
Lebanese Industrialists
Anabela Pereira, Coordinator for Internal
Communication, European Commission:,
Directorate General for Translation
Remi Pierot, Administrator, European
Parliament
Toufik Rata, Health Attaché, Mission of Algeria
to the EU
Olivier Sautière, Policy Coordinator, Bilateral
Trade Relations with Algeria and Libya,
European Commission: Directorate General for
Trade
Marietje Schaake, Member, European
Parliament:, Committee on Culture and
Education
Shahat Selim, Deputy Director, Chamber of
Food Industry, Egypt
Shaheen Shaneen, Deputy Secretary General,
Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce &
Industry
Mohamed Shoukry, Chairman of the Board,
Chamber of Food Industry, Egypt
Marlene Simeon, Policy Officer,
Représentation de la Région Provence-AlpesCôte d'Azur à Bruxelles
Anna Sobczak, Policy Officer responsible for
EU-Mediterranean Dialogue on future of textile
industry, European Commission:, Directorate
General for Enterprise and Industry
Cecilie Solstad, Analyst, Confederation of
Danish Industry (DI)
Burak Soranlar, Commercial Counsellor,
Mission of Turkey to the EU
Barbara Stacher, Desk Officer, Jordan, Agadir
& Iran, European Commission:, Directorate
General for Trade
Michael Stopford, Executive Vice President
and Senior Corporate Strategict, Powell Tate |
Weber Shandwick Public Affairs
Abdurazzag Ben Suleiman, Board Member,
Libyan Businessmen Council
Leila Talani, Lecturer in European Studies
(International and European Political
Economy), King's College London, European
Studies
Niels Tanderup Kristensen, Manager,
Confederation of Danish Industry (DI)
Louis Telemachou, PSC Ambassador,
Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU
Lorenzo Terzi, Head of Unit, Bilateral
International Relations, European
Commission:, Directorate General for Health
and Consumers
Sid Ahmed Tibaoui, President, Arab-EU
Business Facilitation Network
Yousri Tinawy, General Manager, Chamber of
Food Industry, Egypt
Elisabeth Tryselius, Student, University of
Uppsala
Andrey Tsyvov, Second Secretary, Mission of
the Russian Federation to the EU
Adrian van den Hoven, Director, International
Relations, BUSINESSEUROPE
Stephane Vandam, Public Health Officer,
World Health Organization (WHO), Regional
Office for Europe
Gulsum Varli, Commercial Counsellor,
Mission of Turkey to the EU
Pi Wegefelt, Adviser, European Affairs,
Confederation of Danish Industry (DI)
Ulrich Weigl, Deputy Head of Unit, Agriculture,
Fisheries, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Market
Access, Biotechnology, European
Commission:, Directorate General for Trade
Mohamed Taher Yousef, Board Member,
Libyan Businessmen Council
Serena Yu, Third Secretary, Taipei
Reform growth in Arab-EU trade | Winter 2012
Representative Office to the EU & Belgium
Ramy Zaki, Government Relations Manager,
Procter & Gamble
Zhengfu Zhang, Correspondent, Xinhua News
Agency, European Regional Bureau
Ilham Zhiri, Founding President, Moroccan
Friends of Europe – Les Amis de l’Europe
Bibliothèque Solvay – Parc Léopold
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EastWest Institute
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